When Pigs Swim, You Say!

Another Beautiful Bahamian Sunset

We spent a week enjoying the Exuma Cays Sea and Land Park before we left for Staniel Cay.  Staniel Cay lies about 25 miles south of Warderwick Wells.  The island is approximately two square miles. Staniel Cay has a small Bahamian village on the western shore with a population of less than 110. The village is composed of homes, a church, a post office, a library, three small retail stores and marine supply shops.  The population caters primarily to tourists.  This area is primarily known for Thunderball Grotto, swimming pigs and pristine beaches.

Thunderball Grotto

Thunderball Grotto Sea-life

Inside Thunderball Grotto

In 1965, Thunderball Grotto, a limestone cave situated on the western coast of Staniel Cay, was the setting of the James Bond film "Thunderball". It was from this film the name Thunderball was given to the grotto. The island was also used as a filming location for a scene in the (1983) James Bond movie "Never Say Never Again".  Thunderball grotto, which is a natural limestone cavern that can be entered from underwater. Light enters through a vaulted ceiling and a variety of sea-life swim in the water inside the cavern, including the purple parrotfish, yellowtail snappers, angelfish and sergeant majors.  While at Staniel Cay we took an opportunity to snorkel the grotto.  It was eerie swimming underwater to enter one of the openings and gain access to the interior of the cavern. Once inside we found the sea-life to be amazing and the light bouncing of the cavern walls extraordinarily beautiful.  Coming from above and filtering through the watery openings from below, the sun light rays appear blue, turquoise, pink and green.  We spent about an hour inside the grotto feeding the fish corn and exploring all of the cracks, crevices and openings.   

The Famous Swimming Pigs

We were anchored at Big Major Cay during our stay at Staniel Cay, an uninhabited island a short dinghy ride away from Staniel Cay . This is the home of the famous Bahama Swimming Pigs.  There are approximately 20 pigs and piglets on Big Major Cay. They are not native to the island and popular lore suggests that they were dropped off by a group of sailors who planned to return and cook them, or that there was a nearby shipwreck and the pigs swam to shore.

Pig Beach

Personally, we believe they were left here in more recent times by local Bahamians tourist guides who wanted to bring visitors to the island to feed them. What a sweet deal!  Think about it, because the pigs live on the island where there is plenty of fresh water and they are constantly fed by tourists, the owners can come back during the holiday season and pick out a nice fat free pig when they are planning a pig roast for friends and family.  We were told that some of the pigs in fact do periodically disappear, but it is claimed they are stolen by other Bahamians for relocation to other islands to similarly attract tourists to those areas. After all, we were informed, these are special "swimming pigs" and pigs do not swim naturally! They must be bred to do so. Thus, you can not just drop off any old domestic pig on an uninhabited island and expect them to swim out and greet tourists for a free meal. But, we think pigs are pretty smart animals and if they are hungry...  well you decide which story you like best.

Pirate's Beach

We also enjoyed the novelty of "Pirate's Beach".  While at Big Majors Cay we were anchored just off this beach. There we spent numerous hours looking at the many interesting items left behind by passing cruisers. In the picture above, hopefully you will be able to identify not only the chairs, tables, signs, and flags, but also the skulls and cross bones.

Our anchorage at Big Major
The calm before the storm!

We stayed nine days in the Staniel Cay area waiting for weather to go north.  A good sailing day never presented itself, so we decided to head south instead, but that is a topic for a future blog.  Until then, we hope you have fair winds and calm seas.

Check out those storm clouds!

Fair Winds